The objective of SMYT is to provide education in the performing arts for young people of all abilities and in particular to foster in them an appreciation and enjoyment of theatre arts and drama. They are taught team work and dedication and acquire self-confidence and a sense of belonging. A large number of the group go on to Performing Arts colleges and theatre schools.

Sunday, 7 June 2009

13 years after their fantastic success with the World Theatrical premiere of Pit Stop, a musical based on the Yorkshire mining community, St Mary’s Youth Theatre are again about to perform the World Premiere of Coal Face, a one act play by a local young writer called Gareth Durasow. Set against the austere backdrop of the 1940s mining industry, Coal Face is a bleakly comic tale about what happens when “the youth of today” meet the youth of yesteryear.The war has been won and now Tommy must come to terms with his new life in Garforth; a life that has bid farewell to schoolyard games and is about to see him join the men of iron on the road to Ledston Luck. But for Tommy, the biggest problem isn’t that he’s not from round ‘ere. It’s that he’s from the future!When Garforth Arts Community Director Dave Evans asked SMYT director Steve Archdale if there was anything they could do for the group Steve suggested the commissioning of a new play based on Garforth’s history. Gareth Durasow was then taken on board to research and write a play for them. Meeting Garforth people he gleamed stories and useful titbits of local folklore appertaining to the post-war mining communities in this area. Using the information he then set about writing a play suitable for the young members of SMYT to perform.

The play will be opening the Garforth Arts Festival on Tuesday 30th June at Garforth Community College. Ticket prices are £5 & £4 concessions and are on sale at Garforth Bookshop, Main Street Garforth.

WHO ARE WE

St. Mary's Youth Theatre was formed in August 1993 by Steve Archdale who was concerned about the increasing problems of alcohol and drug abuse in the teenage community of Garforth. With so little for the youngsters to do, especially in the field of theatre arts and drama, the idea of creating a youth theatre seemed appropriate.

A cast of 60+ with ages ranging from 8 to 22 auditioned for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, all were successful, no one was turned away. The show was rehearsed and performed in 8 weeks to thunderous acclaim in a church hall converted into a Pharaoh's tomb by a local artist. The following week they returned eager to find out what they were doing next. What began as a one-off production became the start of many shows to come.

A disastrous fire in 1995 wrecked their headquarters, destroying costumes, props and sets. This could easily have been the end of SMYT but as a result they have pulled together and grown stronger gradually replacing their losses. As members of the Leeds Civic Arts Guild they perform at the new, Leeds Carriageworks theatre which is in the Millenium Square, mainly musicals (i.e., Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fame, Children of Eden, etc.). The National Theatre Connections scheme gives the group the chance to perform new plays written by the very best writers. In 2002 they were fortunate to perform at the Royal National Theatre itself…what an experience! Their latest productions include Little Shop of Horrors, Honk, 17, Feather Boy,The Musicians,We Will Rock You, Rent, Our House, Les Miserables, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, The Passion, Our Cousin Flo, Scrooge, Peter Pan, Whistle Down The Wind and Annie.

SMYT are now based, rehearse and perform at Green Lane Academy and St Mary's Church, Garforth, Leeds and charge a yearly subscription fee of £40.